Alphonse Duvernoy


Victor-Alphonse Duvernoy was a French pianist and composer.

Life and career

The son of noted bass-baritone Charles-François Duvernoy, Duvernoy was born in Paris and became a student of Antoine François Marmontel, François Bazin, and Auguste Barbereau at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied piano from 1886. He subsequently made his career as a piano virtuoso, a composer and professor of piano at the Conservatoire.
He composed operas, a ballet, symphonic and chamber music works, as well as music for piano. His 1880 symphonic poem La Tempête for soloists, chorus and orchestra after William Shakespeare's The Tempest won the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris in 1900.
Duvernoy counts composer Alexander Winkler and Norah Drewett de Kresz among his students. His brother was singer and pianist Edmond Duvernoy.
He died in Paris.

Selected works

;StageSardanapale, opera in 3 acts ; libretto by Pierre Berton after Lord ByronLe Baron Frick, operetta-pasticcio in 1 act ; libretto by Ernest Depré and Charles ClairvilleHellé, opera in 4 acts ; libretto by Charles-Louis-Étienne Nuitter and Camille du LocleBacchus, ballet in 3 acts and 5 scenes ; libretto by Georges Hartmann and Joseph Hansen after a poem by Auguste Mermet, choreography by Joseph Hansen
;OrchestralHernani, overture
;Concertante2 Fragments symphoniques for piano and orchestra Morceau de concert for piano and orchestra, Op. 20 ; dedicated to Mathurin BarbereauScène de bal for piano and orchestra, Op. 28 Fantaisie symphonique for piano and orchestra
;Chamber music
  • Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 11
  • Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano, Op. 23 Sérénade for trumpet, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and piano, Op. 24 Deux Morceaux for flute and piano, Op. 41
  • Concertino for flute and piano, Op. 45
  • String Quartet in C minor, Op. 46 Lied in A minor for viola and piano, Op. 47
  • Sonata No. 2 in C minor for violin and piano, Op. 51
;PianoSix pièces : Romance sans paroles; Gavotte; Prélude; Poco agitato; Chanson; ÉtudeBallade, Op. 8 No. 1 Sérénade, Op. 8 No. 2Queen Mab Regrets Le Message, Caprice Cinq Pièces de genre Voyage où il vous plaira, 15 Pieces, Op. 21 : En route!; Récit; Menuet; Orientale; Conversation; Allegrezza; Promenade; Ischl; Souvenir; Momente de caprice; Chanson; Un soir; Inquiétude; Kilia; RetourLa Tempête, airs de ballet for piano 4-hands Pensée musicale, Op. 25 Intermède, Op. 26 Scherzetto, Op. 27 Deux Pièces, Op. 35Sous bois, Op. 36 Humoresque, Op. 42L'École du mécanisme, 100 Études
;ChoralLa Tempête, symphonic poem in 3 parts for soloists, chorus and orchestra ; words by Armand Silvestre and Pierre Berton after The Tempest by William ShakespeareCléopâtre, scène lyrique for soprano, chorus and orchestra ; words by Louis Gallet
;VocalSix Mélodies for voice and piano, Op. 7; Amour ; La Caravane humaine ; Romance ; Les Matelots ; Soupirs ; La Fuite Chanson d'amour for voice and piano, words by Louis BouilhetDouces larmes for voice and piano, words by Paul GravolletChansons de page for tenor or soprano, words by Stéphane Bordèse